Global Ocean Governance: Turning the Tide for Climate Action

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns: it is code red for humanity. Anthropogenic pressures are altering the ocean’s dynamics and its interactions with the atmosphere, destroying ecosystems that are essential for climate stability, as well as home to millions of species. The ocean and its ecosystems are in great danger, and many coastal communities around the world are already facing existential threats from climate-related impacts. But, what if we turn things around: if the ocean could actually become our best ally in the fight against climate change instead of our worst enemy? This is where my professional journey begins.

As a sailing and windsurfing enthusiast, I’ve always shown a particular fondness for the ocean. Once having graduated from a Master’s degree in International Cooperation, I decided to follow my instinct and jumped at the opportunity to turn my playing field into my field of study. I interned at the United Nations Environment Programme (unpaid), where I provided support to a marine biologist in assessing how and the extent to which UN efforts contribute to turning the tide, and stopping plastics from entering the ocean. This study was my gateway into international ocean policy. I was hooked, and decided to go further!

I enrolled in specific online classes and joined youth-led initiatives to get a better understanding of ocean challenges and opportunities, while learning more about international ocean governance. I started to realise that the ocean is not only an effective tool to strengthen multilateral cooperation, but also a powerful and untapped source of solutions to tackle jointly the climate and biodiversity crises. I became confident that confronting environmental challenges, including ocean changes, requires commitment and effective cooperation at the international level, and therefore joining forces to achieve transformative change.

With this idea in mind, I joined the Ocean & Climate Platform - initially as an international policy assistant, and later as international policy officer. At the science-policy interface, we primarily contribute to better integrating the ocean into global decision-making processes(e.g. institutionalising the ocean-climate nexus under the UN Climate Convention, increasing synergies between the climate and biodiversity regimes, strengthening ocean governance). We believe that only when marine and coastal ecosystems are healthy and resilient, they can continue providing the vital services on which we all depend.

The ocean sits at the crossroads of all major challenges facing humanity today - namely climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, health, energy transition, sustainable economies and decent jobs. At the very heart of our “life-supporting package”, the ocean is a complex ecosystem providing essential services for sustaining life on our planet, thereby offering key opportunities to build the sustainable future we need. In the lead-up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 26, it is essential to keep in mind that the ocean, which connects us all, is also a powerful source of solutions. There is no healthy planet without a healthy ocean, and that’s why we need to act now.

(c) The Sea People

Marine Lecerf works as an International Policy Officer at the Ocean & Climate Platform.